Crown of Hidden Scales novel · Chapter 14 of 24
Chapter 14: The Copy
The crown on my head began to scream.
It was not a sound a throat could make.
It was iron answering iron, a note so high that the glass in the hall's tall windows hummed with it.
Every noble within ten paces clapped their hands over their ears.
Edric sat on the black throne with the copy settled on his brow.
He smiled for exactly as long as it took the sound to reach him.
Then his smile came apart.
Smoke curled up from under the gilt rim.
"It's hot," he said.
"It's only a crown," said Hesper sharply. "Sit still."
"It's burning me!"
He clawed at it with both hands.
The copy came off with a tearing noise, and a strip of his skin came with it, red as a brand across his forehead.
The gilt had run.
It dripped from the iron in bright yellow beads, and under it the metal was grey and dull and soft.
It was lead, with a gold skin.
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–12 of Crown of Hidden Scales are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
← Chapter 13 · All chapters · Chapter 15 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend